Introduction:
Amritsar is a big town with a population
of about one million. It is a major trade centre. The offices
of the Sikhs' representative organizations i.e. Akali Dal,
the S.G.P.C., the Sikh Students' Federation, the Chief Khalsa
Diwan have also been set up at Amritsar. The famous Sikh journal
Sant Sipahi is published from this city. Amritsar city was
founded by Guru Ram Das Sahib in 1574, on the land bought
by him for an amount of rupees 700 from the owners of the
village Tung. (Earlier Guru Ram Das Sahib had begun building
Santokhsar Sarovar, near erstwhile village of Sultanwind in
1564 {according to one source in 1570}. It could not be completed
before 1588). In 1574, Guru Ram Das Sahib built his residence
and moved to this place. At that time, it was known as Guru-Da-Chakk.
(Later, it came to be known as Chakk Ram Das). Guru Ram Das
Sahib began excavation of the Amritsar Sarovar (tank) in 1577.
It was ready by 1581. This tank was renovated by Guru Arjun
Sahib in 1586. Since then this city is known as Amritsar (after
the name of the Sarovar). The foundation of the Darbar Sahib
had been laid by Guru Arjan Sahib on January 3, 1588. (Later,
it was propagated that the foundation stone of Darbar Sahib
was laid by Sain Mian Mir, a Muslim holy man. Sain Mian Mir
was very friendly with Guru Sahib but the foundation of Darbar
Sahib was laid by Guru Sahib himself). In 1590, Guru Arjan
Sahib moved to village Wadali where Guru Hargobind Sahib was
born on June 19, 1590. By 1601, the Darbar Sahib was fully
ready. In 1603-04, the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib,
the Sikh scriptures, was prepared in this city and was installed
at Darbar Sahib on August 16, 1604.
Sikhism is a practical and universal religion, Sikhism
is opposed to all ritualism and formalism. The word 'Guru'
in Sanskrit means teacher, honoured person, religious person
or saint. Sikhism though has a very specific definition of
the word 'Guru'. It means the descent of divine guidance to
mankind provided through ten Enlightened Masters. This honour
of being called a Sikh Guru applies only to the ten Gurus
who founded the religion starting with Guru Nanak in 1469
and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708; thereafter it refers
to the Sikh Holy Scriptures the Guru Granth Sahib. The divine
spirit was passed from one Guru to the next as "The light
of a lamp which lights another does not abate. Similarly a
spiritual leader and his disciple become equal, Nanak says
the truth."
GOLDEN TEMPLE (AMRITSAR)
The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab,
is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the
magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the
world. In the evolution of the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the
history and ideology of Sikhism. In its architecture are included,
symbols associated with other places of worship. This is an
example of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that the
Sikh philosophy propounds. Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known
as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic
beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is
named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over
the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to
pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas. Around Golden Temple :-
SRI GURU RAM DAS NIWAS
The Niwas is a free hostel for the pilgrims maintained by
the Temple authorities. It has been built by the Gurdwara
Committee. It has 228 rooms and 18 big halls. Unlike the ordinary
'Daramsalas' the Niwas supplies the facilities of free beddings,
cots, lights and fans etc. to the lodgers. A lodger is not
generally allowed to stay here for more than three days at
a time. The doors of the hostels are open to all. The lodgers
however must not do anything repugnant to the teachings of
Sikhism.
BABA ATAL
A nine-storeyed tower, built in memory of Atal Rai (D. 1628),
a son of Hargobind, is called Baba Atal. Atal Rai died at
nine. He was called 'Baba' (an old man) head over young shulders.
The tower was built between 1778 and 1784. It is the only
of its kind in the city with 108 ft. height.
AKAL TAKHAT
It rightly faces the Golden Temple. Built by the Sixth Master
Guru Hargobind (1606-44) in 1609, has been the nerve centre
or the Sikhism ever since. All commandments affecting the
community as a whole were and are issued from here. The Akal
Takhat was used for holding court and Sikh congregations in
the days of its builder. The Akal Takhat was pulled down several
times by the Muslim raiders. The ground floor of the present
building was constructed in 1 874. Three storeys were subsequently
added by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A number of weapons used by
Guru Hargobind, Guru Gobind Singh and other Sikh heroes are
preserved at Akal Takhat. In 1984 during Operation Blue Star
Akal Takhat was badly damaged by the Indian Army.
GURU KA LANGAR
A Sikh temple without a Community Kitchen is inconceivable.
Cooked food is serviced in the kitchen of the Golden Temple
24 hours to all visitors irrespective of religion, caste,
creed and nationality. The expenses are met out of the Temple
funds. Approximately 40,000 visitors share the meals everyday
presently.
THE SGPC OFFICES
The headquarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
are located in the Teja Singh Samundri Hall near the Golden
Temple. The Gurdwara Act 1925, transferred the control of
the historical Sikh Shrines in the Punjab to the SGPC. It
is a representative body of the Sikhs elected by adult franchise.
The temple building is three storeys high and is crowned with
a dome shaped like an inverted lotus. The lower storey is
in white marble, while the two upper storeys have gold plating.
The temple has four entrances instead of the usual single
entry, symbolic of the openness of Sikhism and the fact that
followers of all faiths are welcome here. The walls within
are decorated with carved wooden panels and elaborate inlay
work in silver and gold. The Adi Granth, compiled by Guru
Arjan Dev, rests on a throne beneath a jewel-encrusted canopy.
Priests continuously recite verses from the holy book in 3-hour
shifts. A complete reading of the text takes 48 hours. The
Akal Takht, next to the Golden Temple, is the seat of the
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the religious governing
body of the Sikhs. The building of the Akal Takht was begun
by Guru Arjan Dev and completed in 1609 by Guru Hargobind.
The Adi Granth is housed in the Akal Takht and is taken out
in procession every morning to be placed at the Harmandir,
and is brought back to the Akal Takht at night.
Shrines on the northern edge of the corridor are venerated
as the 68 holy shrines of the Hindus. According to the teachings
of Guru Arjan Dev, it was enough for the devout to visit these
shrines and not visit all the original Hindu shrines which
are distributed across India. Many of these shrines have now
been converted into a martyr’s gallery showing the gruesome
history of the Sikhs. Around the Parikrama, or pathway, are
four rectangular cubicles where Granthis (priests) sit and
recite the Granth Sahib. Pilgrims leave offerings at the steps,
and can also get the holy book recited in their names for
a donation.
When to go
The Golden Temple, and the city of Amritsar itself, are best
visited in the winter. The months between November and March
are pleasant (even cold), although the summer can get blisteringly
hot. |
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